2016 Chevrolet CRUZE

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2016 Chevrolet CRUZE has 391 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 4.9x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (27% of all complaints), specifically: check engine light came on with my 2016 chevy cruze with less than 1300 miles onit. dealership cant get me in until late next week!!! why is this on already!!. ⚠️ 10 fire reports filed.

10 fire reports 23 crash reports 15 injuries

391

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

4.9x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ENGINE

106 complaints

27%

• CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WITH MY 2016 CHEVY CRUZE WITH LESS THAN 1300 MILES ONIT. DEALERSHIP CANT GET ME IN UNTIL LATE NEXT WEEK!!! WHY IS THIS ON ALREADY!!
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2016 CHEVROLET CRUZE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE CHECK POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO STOP THE VEHICLE, THE BRAKES WERE INOPERABLE. AFTER COASTING TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, BLACK SMOKE WAS PRESENT COMING FROM THE WINDOW VENTS. WHILE A
• VEHICLE PROVED TO BE SPONTANEOUSLY COMBUSTIVE THUS THE CAR BURNED UP IN A FIRE DUE TO ELECTRICAL HARNESS CATCHING FIRE AS STATED FIRE FIRE DEPARTMENT FIRE INSPECTOR. NO SIGNS SHOWED ANY IMMINENT DANGER, THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE BARELY ESCAPED BEFORE CAR WENT UP IN FLAMES. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 3 fire reports💥 3 crashes

“CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WITH MY 2016 CHEVY CRUZE WITH LESS THAN 1300 MILES ONIT. DEALERSHIP CANT GET ME IN UNTIL LATE NEXT WEEK!!! WHY IS THIS ON ALREADY!!”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

58 complaints

15%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET CRUZE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE HAD OCCURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACT
• CAR STOPPED AND WAS COMPLETELY DEAD IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY, HAZARD LIGHTS DIDN'T WORK. ONSTAR DIDN'T WORK, I COULDN'T ROLL WINDOWS DOWN AND COULD NOT UNLOCK DOORS TO GET OUT OF VEHICLE. 10 MINS LATER VEHICLE RESTARTED LIKE NOTHING HAD HAPPENED. AFTER HAVING IT TOWED BACK TO DEALERSHIP SEEING A
• CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WITH MY 2016 CHEVY CRUZE WITH LESS THAN 1300 MILES ONIT. DEALERSHIP CANT GET ME IN UNTIL LATE NEXT WEEK!!! WHY IS THIS ON ALREADY!!

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 4 fire reports💥 2 crashes

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET CRUZE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE HAD OCCURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACT”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

44 complaints

11%

• 2016 CHEVY CRUZE LMTD LTZ, DRVG DOWN HWY MIDDLE OF NO WHERE 5 HOURS FROM HOME 1T 1AM DRVG 70 MPH, TMS SUDDENLY SHOWS RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER TIRE WITH A TIRE PRESSURE OF 12LBS, NEAREST GAS STATION 10 MILES DOWN HWY, AS DRIVE THERE TIRE PRESSURE SLOWLY CREEPS UP TO 25 LBS BUT GOES NO HIGHER. GET TO GAS
• VEHICLE PROVED TO BE SPONTANEOUSLY COMBUSTIVE THUS THE CAR BURNED UP IN A FIRE DUE TO ELECTRICAL HARNESS CATCHING FIRE AS STATED FIRE FIRE DEPARTMENT FIRE INSPECTOR. NO SIGNS SHOWED ANY IMMINENT DANGER, THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE BARELY ESCAPED BEFORE CAR WENT UP IN FLAMES. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION
• RECEIVED FIRST INSPECTION, LEAVING THE DEALER, THE CAR SMELLED OF POSSIBLY A BURNING OR SOMETHING UNKNOWN. I DID NOT ASSUME THIS WASN'T NORMAL AS THEY HAD TO CHECK SEVERAL THINGS FOR THE INSPECTION. I HAD TO DRIVE VEHICLE WITH OPEN WINDOWS FOR A FEW DAYS. BUT I THOUGHT THAT PERHAPS WHILE CHECKING

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 2 fire reports💥 2 crashes

“2016 CHEVY CRUZE LMTD LTZ, DRVG DOWN HWY MIDDLE OF NO WHERE 5 HOURS FROM HOME 1T 1AM DRVG 70 MPH, TMS SUDDENLY SHOWS RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER TIRE WITH A TIRE PRESSURE OF 12LBS, NEAREST GAS STATION 10 MILES DOWN HWY, AS DRIVE THERE TIRE PRESSURE SLOWLY CREEPS UP TO 25 LBS BUT GOES NO HIGHER. GET TO GAS”

— NHTSA complaint filing

FUEL SYSTEM

37 complaints

• THE THROTTLE STICKS. ITS HAPPENED THREE TIMES NOW
• APPROACHED A CURVE IN ROAD AT APPROXIMATELY 50MPH, TOOK FOOT OFF THE GAS AND ACCELERATOR DID NOT DISENGAGE AND CONTINUED AT FULL SPEED SO FAST COULD NOT NEGOTIATE THE CURVE AND WENT OFF THE CURVE AND CRASHED INTO RAVINE BELOW. THIS OCCURED ONE DAY AFTER THE CAR HAD BEEN SERVICED BY A GM GARAGE ON 1
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET CRUZE. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO WALKER CHEVROLET (3940 CAR OTHERS PKWY, FRANKLIN, TN, 37067) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“THE THROTTLE STICKS. ITS HAPPENED THREE TIMES NOW”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

31 complaints

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET CRUZE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE AND SMOKE BEGAN TO COME FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND PLACED THE VEHICLE IN PARK HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO REVERSE ON ITS
• COOLANT RESERVOIR CRACKED, POSSIBLE BLOWN HEAD GASKET, OR BAD WATER PUMP.
• CAR HAS LESS THAN 17,000 MILES ON IT, AND THE CAR JERKS LIKE A FAILING TRANSMISSION. WHEN DRIVING AND STARTING UP AFTER STOPPING IT JERKS AND HESITATES. BRAKES ARE CONTINUOUSLY BEING BLOWN OUT AS THEY SQUEAL.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET CRUZE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE AND SMOKE BEGAN TO COME FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND PLACED THE VEHICLE IN PARK HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO REVERSE ON ITS ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

FUEL SYSTEM(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 391 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ENGINE: CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WITH MY 2016 CHEVY CRUZE WITH LESS THAN 1300 MILES ONIT. DEALERSHIP CANT GET ME IN UNTIL LATE NEXT WEEK!!! WHY IS THIS ON ALREADY!!
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET CRUZE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE HAD OCCURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACT
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: 2016 CHEVY CRUZE LMTD LTZ, DRVG DOWN HWY MIDDLE OF NO WHERE 5 HOURS FROM HOME 1T 1AM DRVG 70 MPH, TMS SUDDENLY SHOWS RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER TIRE WITH A TIRE PRESSURE OF 12LBS, NEAREST GAS STATION 10 MILES DOWN HWY, AS DRIVE THERE TIRE PRESSURE SLOWLY CREEPS UP TO 25 LBS BUT GOES NO HIGHER. GET TO GAS
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
FUEL SYSTEM: THE THROTTLE STICKS. ITS HAPPENED THREE TIMES NOW
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)